Lauren Tracy for Boston Globe Magazine
March 23rd, 2010
Lauren Tracy, filmmaker, in the Editor's pick. This is the image that ran in Boston Globe Magazine on November 01, 2009.
Every so often, a job will come along that is so very enjoyable, it makes me feel as though I’m getting away with something! I mean, nobody should get paid to have such a nice time, even if they’re taking their October Sunday afternoon to do the work! When I got to photograph Lauren Tracy, a film student at RIT, on October 4, 2009, I realized not too far into the process that this would be one of those especially wonderful scenarios.
When the studio phone rang that Friday afternoon, I had actually been halfway to the front door to leave for the weekend. The week had been pretty crazy, and I was ready to kick back and relax for a little while. I set my things down and picked up the phone. On the other end of the line was an editor from Boston Globe Magazine with an immediate need for an environmental portrait of Lauren Tracy, who was being featured in a section of the magazine titled “Boston Uncommon.” The article showcases Boston area citizens who have risen to do something of significance for their community, or perhaps even on a grander scale. After getting the details of the job and some pertinent information about Lauren’s background, I hung up from the editor and gave Lauren a call to introduce myself and set up the shoot. Lauren immediately struck me as someone who was very intelligent, energetic and well spoken. She also seemed as though she really loves what she does, and is very dedicated to her craft. We talked over the necessary details, and decided that we would shoot sometime over the weekend, probably on Sunday. Now, I just needed to find the perfect location!
Lauren in one of my five favorite outtakes. I really loved the simplicity of the green top, and the way it was complemented by the environment.
On Saturday, I spent some time in the morning researching and reading some more about Lauren, and what she is accomplishing. Lauren has created, along with her father, a fund raising organization, X-Factor Filmmakers, which provides grants and scholarships to help female filmmakers produce their projects and bring their vision to the big screen. Helping to increase the number of women enrolling in film schools is a major focus of X-Factor as well. Funds are raised by donations, partnerships, and through sales of some very cool t-shirts that are available on the X-Factor website.
The name, X-Factor, is symbolic of the fact that females possess two X chromosomes in their genetic make-up, while males only have one. X-Factor celebrates the idea that this “genetic formula” creates a vision that is special, and unique to female filmmakers. At the time of this writing, X-Factor Filmmakers had just begun a new Short Film Contest, open to both female and male filmmakers. Entry is open until April 19, 2010, and the winner will pocket $1000 for the production of their next film! People interested in submitting work are invited to follow this link for the 2010 X-Factor Filmmakers Short Film Contest.
Now, back to our story.
Later in the day, after spending some time away from the city and in the woods, I headed back North to do some location scouting and finish getting the components in place for the next day’s shoot. As I was driving back into Rochester, my mind was working feverishly to think of just the right place for the photography to happen. Suddenly, it came to me. After a couple of calls from the truck, I was all set to shoot in “The Snug” at The Old Toad, an English pub on Alexander Street in Rochester. The Snug would provide the environment of an old sitting room with a British flavor to it. Interestingly, I found out later, that one of the films Lauren had directed had been set in just such an environment.
I think this outtake would be my favorite of the day. The wardrobe was a little more sophisticated, but still warm and natural. I love the way Lauren is engaging the viewer here.
We rolled into The Toad just before 1:00 that Sunday afternoon, unloaded the truck and got to work. I was working without an assistant that day, so while I set up the camera, laptop and ProFoto gear, Lauren was back and forth down the hall to show me the different wardrobe options we had selected from the collection she had brought.
Once everything was squared away with the lighting and wardrobe, we started taking pictures, and things just really fell into place very nicely. Though the room was pretty small for photo-shoots, it offered several really nice perspectives that fit my vision perfectly. It was a little bit of a challenge moving around such a small room once I’d brought in power packs, extension cords, strobes and scrims, but we managed just fine. Actually, Lauren managed just fine because she mostly sat, smiled and ate Shepherd’s Pie. She had arrived that day with a large Ace Bandage on her leg from a soccer injury, and I had given her explicit instructions to enjoy the sofas and chairs while I hauled the gear around.
I think both of us would have liked to have had more time to explore this environment! It had some really relaxed and playful potential.
I really would have loved to spend more time with Lauren that day. We each had some additional ideas that we could envision and would like to have explored. The reality was, though, that I was flying to California with John the following day, and had to go and get everything ready for that trip. In the short time we had, though, we did some good things! Lauren had been a dream to work with, the editor was ecstatic, and felt he had a tough job ahead of him because there were so many of the shots that he loved. I was thrilled to have that kind of feedback! Any time I can create a difficult edit because of the number of great images, I feel I’ve done things the right way, and done them thoroughly, too!
Lauren Tracy, October 4, 2009. In The Snug at The Old Toad, Rochester, NY.
Camera: Canon EOS 1DS Mark 3
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